New Mexico State Convention/DCHFNew Mexico State Convention/DCHFAlbuquerque, NM Aug 20, 2005Albuquerque, NM Aug 20, 2005

Getting Started in Getting Started in ContestingContesting

Bruce Draper, AA5BBruce Draper, AA5B

Much of this material was originally created byMuch of this material was originally created by Gary Schmidt W5ZLGary Schmidt W5ZL Gale Zeiler WB0YEAGale Zeiler WB0YEA Susan King K5DUSusan King K5DUof the Central Texas DX and Contest Club of the Central Texas DX and Contest Club

Big Gun or Little PistolBig Gun or Little Pistol

AB5KAB5KAB5KAB5K

No matter what size station you’re operating, No matter what size station you’re operating, it’s a thrill to talk to somebody far away.it’s a thrill to talk to somebody far away.

Contests let you do that many times in one Contests let you do that many times in one weekend!weekend!

WB0YEA

What We’ll CoverWhat We’ll Cover

• What kind of ham enters a contest?What kind of ham enters a contest?

• What’s the object?What’s the object?

• Getting started in contestingGetting started in contesting

• The variety of contest typesThe variety of contest types

• How to win a contestHow to win a contest

• Online contesting resourcesOnline contesting resources

Who enters a contest? Why?Who enters a contest? Why?• The Casual ContesterThe Casual Contester

A desire to just have some fun, improve operating skills, and work A desire to just have some fun, improve operating skills, and work new countries, states, counties, etc. from the smorgasbord of new countries, states, counties, etc. from the smorgasbord of

participating stationsparticipating stations

• The Feisty ContesterThe Feisty Contester A desire to competeA desire to compete

… … individually, or as part of a club.individually, or as part of a club.

• The Committed ContesterThe Committed Contester Able to leap tall buildings with a single boundAble to leap tall buildings with a single bound

Able to master the art of sleep deprivationAble to master the art of sleep deprivation

CQ CQ Contest!Contest!

N2IC in actionN2IC in action

Benefits of ContestingBenefits of Contesting

• It’s just FUNIt’s just FUN– Gets the competitive juices flowingGets the competitive juices flowing

• Improves operating skillsImproves operating skills– Excellent preparation for emergency operationsExcellent preparation for emergency operations

• An excellent use of our allocated spectrumAn excellent use of our allocated spectrum

Remember: “Use it or lose it.”Remember: “Use it or lose it.”

Do I Have to Have a “Contest Station”?

• Plenty of Big Gun contest stationsPlenty of Big Gun contest stations– Multiple radiosMultiple radios– Multiple towersMultiple towers– Serious station automationSerious station automation

• Also plenty of “normal” stationsAlso plenty of “normal” stations• There are opportunities for “guest operating”There are opportunities for “guest operating”

You don’t have to be a Big Gun You don’t have to be a Big Gun to have Big Fun contesting!to have Big Fun contesting!

How to Win a ContestHow to Win a Contest

• Work a lot of stationsWork a lot of stations

• Work as many “multipliers” as possibleWork as many “multipliers” as possible

• Work smartWork smart– Make good band change decisionsMake good band change decisions

– Use efficient operating techniquesUse efficient operating techniques• Don’t waste time or words (similar to emergency operations)Don’t waste time or words (similar to emergency operations)

• Know when to “Run” and when to “Search & Pounce”Know when to “Run” and when to “Search & Pounce”

• Know when to take a breakKnow when to take a break

Efficient TechniquesEfficient Techniques• When you’re getting started, spend a lot of time When you’re getting started, spend a lot of time

listening to other stations. After a little while, it’ll listening to other stations. After a little while, it’ll be obvious to you who’s doing it right.be obvious to you who’s doing it right.

• Simple things can make a big difference.Simple things can make a big difference.– On CW, “TEST N2UT” On CW, “TEST N2UT” vsvs “CQ TEST DE N2UT” can save enough time “CQ TEST DE N2UT” can save enough time

during the weekend to work a hundred more stations!during the weekend to work a hundred more stations!

– On phone, “Thanks, VP5K” On phone, “Thanks, VP5K” vsvs “Thank you, QRZed contest, this is “Thank you, QRZed contest, this is VP5K” can save enough time (AND YOUR VOICE) to work hundreds VP5K” can save enough time (AND YOUR VOICE) to work hundreds more QSOs.more QSOs.

Many different types of contestsMany different types of contests

• SSB, CW, RTTYSSB, CW, RTTY• DX DX

ARRLARRL, , CQWWCQWW, , IARUIARU, , WPXWPX, foreign hosted, etc., foreign hosted, etc.• National National

Field DayField Day, , SweepstakesSweepstakes, , NAQPNAQP, , VHFVHF//UHFUHF, State QSO Parties, etc., State QSO Parties, etc.• Specialty Specialty

SprintsSprints, FOC Marathon, , FOC Marathon, SOCSOC, , SKNSKN, etc., etc.

A Contest for All Seasons/TastesA Contest for All Seasons/Tastes

ARRL ARRL Field DayField Day

ARRL ARRL SKNSKN

ARRL ARRL DXDX

NAQPNAQP

SprintSprint

CQ WW DXCQ WW DX

ARRL ARRL 160160 ARRL ARRL

1010

State QSO PartiesState QSO Parties(Many)(Many)

ARRL ARRL VHFVHF

CQ WPXCQ WPX

IARU HF World IARU HF World ChampionshipsChampionships

ARRL ARRL SweepstakesSweepstakes

ARRL ARRL RTTYRTTY

ARRL ARRL UHFUHF

SprintSprint

Beginner to ExpertBeginner to Expert

TQPTQP

NAQPNAQP

ARRL ARRL VHFVHF

JanJan

DecDec

Multiple categoriesMultiple categories

Single operatorSingle operatorPacket-assisted or unassistedPacket-assisted or unassisted

PowerPowerQRP, low, highQRP, low, high

Single band and/or mode (some contests)Single band and/or mode (some contests)

Multi-op, single transmitterMulti-op, single transmitter Multi-op, multi-transmitterMulti-op, multi-transmitter

. . . designed to let you compete on a level playing field. . . designed to let you compete on a level playing field

When are contests run?When are contests run?Almost always on weekendsAlmost always on weekends

Starting/ending times vary by contestStarting/ending times vary by contest

Durations as short as 4 hoursDurations as short as 4 hours

As long as 48 hoursAs long as 48 hours

Maximum allowed operating hours also varyMaximum allowed operating hours also vary

Good on-line contest calendar: Good on-line contest calendar: www.www.hornucopiahornucopia..

com/contestcal/com/contestcal/

Online Contesting ResourcesOnline Contesting Resources• ARRLARRL

www.arrl.orgwww.arrl.org – ““ARRL Rate Sheet” newsletter ARRL Rate Sheet” newsletter http://www.http://www.arrlarrl

.org/contests/rate-sheet/.org/contests/rate-sheet/• Contesting.comContesting.com

www.contesting.comwww.contesting.com • National Contest JournalNational Contest Journal

www.ncjweb.comwww.ncjweb.com

Best contests for getting your feet wetBest contests for getting your feet wet

Field DayField Day

Straight Key NightStraight Key Night

State QSO Parties (many!)State QSO Parties (many!)

What’s Req’d to Get Started?What’s Req’d to Get Started?A radio and antennasA radio and antennasA logging systemA logging system

Pencil & paperPencil & paperoo Tried and true, but hard to keep track of dupesTried and true, but hard to keep track of dupes

Computer-based logging softwareComputer-based logging softwareoo Many options from freeware to networkedMany options from freeware to networked

DOS-based: DOS-based: ••TR Log ($60-75) TR Log ($60-75) www.trlog.comwww.trlog.com••NA ($90) NA ($90) www.datomonline.comwww.datomonline.com••CT (free) CT (free) www.k1ea.comwww.k1ea.com

Windows-basedWindows-basedN1MM (free) N1MM (free) www.n1mm.comwww.n1mm.com WriteLog (~$75) WriteLog (~$75) www.writelog.comwww.writelog.com N3FJP ($39-49) N3FJP ($39-49) www.n3fjp.comwww.n3fjp.com

oo Can even trigger pre-recorded voice, CW, or RTTY exchangesCan even trigger pre-recorded voice, CW, or RTTY exchanges

Advanced Operation:Advanced Operation:Interfacing Your RadioInterfacing Your Radio

• Serial, USB and Parallel OptionsSerial, USB and Parallel Options

• Why do it?Why do it?– Logging automation: less work for you = Logging automation: less work for you =

higher QSO rateshigher QSO rates

• Date/timeDate/time

• Freq/modeFreq/mode

• Contest exchangeContest exchange

– Integrated “point-and-shoot” DX Integrated “point-and-shoot” DX

cluster operationcluster operation

– Trigger transmitted exchangesTrigger transmitted exchanges

How do I report my results?How do I report my results?• OfficiallyOfficially

– Snail mailSnail mail– eMaileMail

• Cabrillo file generated by most computerized Cabrillo file generated by most computerized logging programs (may be required to be logging programs (may be required to be declared a winner)declared a winner)

• UnofficiallyUnofficially– ““3830”3830”

• On the air (right after the contest, 3830 kHz)On the air (right after the contest, 3830 kHz)• http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/

What Can I Win?What Can I Win?

Trophies, plaques, certificatesTrophies, plaques, certificates

GoodiesGoodies

Example: Example: WA State QSO Party “Salmon RunWA State QSO Party “Salmon Run” ” category winners receive smoked salmoncategory winners receive smoked salmon

Trips!Trips!

QSOs toward non-contest awardsQSOs toward non-contest awards

The awe and respect of your fellow competitors (aka The awe and respect of your fellow competitors (aka “bragging rights”)“bragging rights”)

Local HelpLocal Help

ARRL-affiliated “local” club:ARRL-affiliated “local” club:

New Mexico Big River ContestersNew Mexico Big River Contesters

Informal NM group, with eMail reflector:Informal NM group, with eMail reflector:

nmcontesters (send eMail to n2ic@arrl.net for info)nmcontesters (send eMail to n2ic@arrl.net for info)